Nulife and Denis Hogan (third right)© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer/jockey Denis Hogan landed the Mary Barry's Seafood Bar Handicap Hurdle at Wexford today as his Nulife showed the benefit of a return to hurdling, when avoiding minor traffic interference before scoring a length and a half win.
The son of Generous and Hogan were short of room early in the home straight but did find racing room approaching the final flight before scoring a length and a half win over Omega Springs
Hogan later said "I was boxed in a bit, but I knew I had plenty of horse and I didn't want to get there too soon. I was loving it the whole, until I wheeled out at the second last - if I was back again I would have stayed in a bit longer.”
He added "I'm thrilled as this horse has been frustrating but has plenty of ability. He has been raring up in the stalls (in his flat races recently) and had cheekpieces and a hood today - I think it was a good job. He has a fierce sensitive mouth and that's what has been happening in the stalls - the minute a bit of contact comes with his mouth he rares.
"He’ll win a Flat race but the stalls are a problem so I’m delighted for his owner Tony Ryan who has persevered with him. It's been a year since he first ran in Killarney and I didn't think he'd be a year a maiden but hopefully he can go on from here.
"He'll go for another handicap, and we'll see about the handicap on the Monday night at Galway - Tony is a Galway man so he might run there."
Quotes from Donal Murphy
